3 healthy and simple on the go lunch ideas

Working, looking after a family whilst keeping up with life admin makes it extremely hard to eat healthy on the go. Never fear – I have you covered! Below are some extremely simple and healthy on the go lunches that will keep you full. The key idea here is preparation – and mass preparation at that! You can make up at least two or three batches of the good stuff below, and keep in a Tupperware in the fridge.

On the go salads

I love a filling salad, and if I’m organised can make two or three at a time for my weekday lunches at work. I’ve formulated my go to salad combination – some kind of carb, a veggie filled salad, an animal protein (optional) and a sprinkle for crunch! Dressings also optional!

For the carb: New potatoes with a little olive oil and chives. Try rice mixed with spinach until it wilts, cold pasta with pesto or a little cheese or blanched noodles. Cold roasted sweet potato or other root vegetable also works well – butternut squash, parsnip etc. And not forgetting super grains! Quinoa, buckwheat, couscous and bulgur-wheat can all pad out your salad.

Protein: Optional. I like to butterfly my chicken breast and fry until crispy, then slice onto my salad. Or find yourself some juicy king prawns. Crayfish is also a yummy addition. Also try bacon cut it into bits, or some lovely honey roasted ham.

Sprinkle: I like a bit of crunch to top my salad. Go for pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, croutons or if you’re feeling really naughty, I sometimes sprinkle on crunched up tortilla chips!

Dressing: I would advise you to pop this into a separate container to avoid the salad getting soggy. One my favourite dressings is simple – teaspoon of tahini, olive oil and lemon juice. If you don’t have time to prepare a dressing, you can always pop a lime wedge in with your salad and squeeze over before you eat!

Rice cakes are versatile!

Rice cakes currently make up a large chunk of my diet. They are so versatile and so easily digestible. Here are a few of my favourite rice cake combinations – easy to stick in a Tupperware for a light lunch or snacks.

Smashed avocado and basil - Mash avocado and basil with a touch of olive oil in a bowl and top your rice cake. By far my favourite topping.

Hummus & roasted jarred peppers - Either dip the rice cake straight into the hummus, or spread on top with some roasted jarred peppers.

Tomato and basil - Get yourself a big plum tomato and pit of all seeds. Chop into small pieces and pile on your rice cake with basil. So simple but yummy!

Frittata

Frittata is so easy to make and lasts for 2-3 days, so is perfect to prep, stick in a Tupperware and eat for quick and easy lunches! The best part of cooking a frittata is you can literally fill it with whatever you have in the fridge – so it’s perfect for using up leftovers and old veg! Here is a super simple way to cook up a frittata.

Beat together the eggs with the milk, dried herbs and salt and pepper. Whisk until fully combined in a large bowl and then add your cooked veggies. Meanwhile, get a shallow medium sized saucepan on the heat with some butter/coconut oil/olive oil on a medium heat. Add the egg and vegetable mixture so it fully covers the pan.

Meanwhile, heat the grill to 180C. Let the frittata cook on the hob for around 4-5 minutes, or until the edges go golden and cook. Now transfer to the grill for 5 minutes to cook the top.

Slice up and serve hot with salad or separate into Tupperware’s and enjoy for a quick and filling lunch!